Background:
Parental perceptions of the infant play a critical role in shaping parenting behavior and child development. Understanding the role of prematurity in these perceptions during early development is crucial for addressing emotional needs and providing timely support. This study examined parental representations of the infants among parents of preterm and full-term infants.
Methods:
A total of 146 parents (mean age = 32.19, SD = 5.31) of firstborn, single children aged 15-24 months (mean age = 19.45 months, SD = 2.90) participated in the study. The sample included parents of preterm infants (n = 73) and full-term infants with no reported developmental concerns (n = 73), matched on parents' gender, age, socioeconomic status, and child's age. Participants completed the Mothers' Object Relations Scale-Short Form (MORS-SF) and the Parental Stress Index (PSI).
Results:
Parents of preterm infants reported higher levels of parental stress. In a multivariate model, parental stress was negatively associated with parents' perceptions of the infant's warmth and positively with perceptions of the infant's invasiveness. Parental stress significantly mediated the association between the research group (preterm, full-term) and both the infant's warmth and invasiveness, while the direct effects of the research group on the infant's representations were not significant.
Conclusions:
The study highlights parental stress as a central mechanism through which prematurity influences early parent-infant relationship dynamics. Interventions aimed at reducing parental stress may promote more positive parental representations and improve the quality of early bonding. Strengthening the relational foundation during this sensitive period is crucial for supporting both the infant's and the parents' well-being.